Kevin Kynock; spearheaded BC drama program

Throughout his 40 years as an English teacher and drama adviser at Boston College High School, Kevin C. Kynock channeled his passion for theater to generations of students who carried it beyond the walls of his classroom.

"He created a really welcoming, nurturing place for students who were trying to fit in," said former student Patrick Healy, now a political reporter for The New York Times. "He made students of all different talents, all different abilities feel welcome."

Mr. Kynock, who enriched the drama program at a school more known for its athletics, died of a heart attack Saturday at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. He was 64.

Born on the summer solstice in 1942, Mr. Kynock inherited his love of the arts from his mother, who took him to see plays and introduced him to music, said his sister-in-law Leslie of the Cotuit section of Barnstable.

He graduated from Marian High School in Framingham and received a bachelor's degree in English from Boston College in 1964. Mr. Kynock began teaching English at BC High, and he immediately became immersed in the after-school drama program. He received a master's degree in English in 1966.

A talented pianist who also had a creative eye, Mr. Kynock helped compose music, choreograph dances, and design sets for several student performances each year.

Joe Keenan, a former student who went on to write for such television shows as "Frasier" and is an executive producer for "Desperate Housewives," said Mr. Kynock helped and encouraged him in high school when he was writing a play for students to perform.

"Kevin's influence was that he really believed in his students," Keenan said. "He took students seriously and encouraged us all to strive to attain a level of professionalism."

Healy, a former Globe reporter, also remembered how Mr. Kynock's high expectations affected him. "He didn't treat you like a kid. He treated you like an actor or singer," he said.

Possessing an insatiable desire for learning, Mr. Kynock attended Shakespeare festivals and seminars across the country and in Canada and Europe during school vacations, bringing the experiences back to the stage at BC High.

"He lived to direct plays," Keenan said. "His enthusiasm was infectious."

Despite occasional job offers from colleges and universities, Mr. Kynock never had a desire to leave BC High, his sister-in-law said.

"He loved teaching the age where they were going from a child to an adult," she said. "He wanted to help them see the world in different ways. He called them his 'kids.' "

Jim Connors, a chemistry teacher at BC High and a longtime friend and colleague, said Mr. Kynock arrived at work around 7 each morning and would often stay until 6 or 7 p.m., working with students to put on at least three performances a year.

In 2005, Mr. Kynock retired after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and diabetes. "He felt he was no longer able to give the children 100 percent," Connors said.

Upon his retirement, the Performing Arts Parents Association at BC High created an annual award to be given in Mr. Kynock's name to a faculty or staff member dedicated to supporting the arts.

During the past few years, Mr. Kynock struggled with his health, and the death of his brother, Brian, last month took a toll on him, said his sister-in-law.

"He was very willful, but sensitive," she said. "He couldn't deal with the reality of the loss of his brother."

Still, his family remembered Mr. Kynock for the energy and exuberance he displayed throughout his life.

"The only envy I've ever felt is that I wish I had been a student of his." his sister-in-law said. "When he came in, he'd fill a room with unconditional love and joy."

In addition to his sister-in-law, Mr. Kynock leaves two nephews, Jared of Rangeley, Maine, and Keith of Cotuit.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow in Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Milton. Burial will be private.

Correction: Because of an editing error, a headline on the obituary of Kevin C. Kynock in yesterday's Globe gave an incorrect affiliation for the drama program he had been involved with. The program was at Boston College High School.